Lessons learn in life

Ok, guess i'll get an earful for blogging at this time when i should already be sleeping. But anyway, the mood just kicks in and here i am.. 2nd post for the month.

For a start, i just finished up a movie, "Felon". Personally i think it's a great show, for that the storyline isn't those typical fantasy-kind or like those some called them "watch-and-forget". In short, it's about a guy who protected his family by accidentally killing an intruder to this house, ends up spending time in jail, learning the disgusting ugly side of things that happen behind the bars. If you guys have some spare time, do try to watch it. In my humble opinion, it's a 8/10.

Its been quite awhile since i get viewers' response, and since this post is more about thoughts and opinions, i guess it's good time to post a question for the floor.

Do you guys ever observe the small little things around your life, either complain about it, or get disgusted by it, followed by putting yourself into the shoe of that person or into the act by someone and try to comprehend it in another way, lastly end off by learning a lesson?

Now, that last statement probably gonna put some of you into a land of question marks, or probably get turned off by my English. Nevertheless, read on if you don't get it and please don't dwell on it. It's already quite bad to have a writer who thinks too hard.

So, lesson number 1: When you put yourself into something, whole-heartedly, how fast and well can you pull yourself out of it, walk off without looking back, and not feel a slight pinch.

It's not so much just about relationship, or work. I'm sure that part is quite understandable. I'm looking at those minor stuff, and it could be just a conversation, whereby you share your views and you are pretty sure you're in the right side. So you go all out to make sure your voice get heard by the other party, and you try to put down all the arguments against your point.

If you're one aggressive guy, you probably will shut the other person up, but deep down you know you may be wrong on some points. Likewise, if you're the soft-spoken one, you probably keep your say and opinions closer to your heart, and let the other party get the "win" in the verbal exchange, knowing he/she is just too blind to see or accept the facts.

I have to admit i'm the aggressive type, but seriously deep down i know i'm wrong at times. Even if i'm not, my aggression probably overkill the other party and i lost out hearing views about my blindspots. Once again, this is something not taught in the text, something not usually looked into in-depth, and i must say you probably have to "think-alot" to even come close to getting all this alien-thoughts running through your head.

Lesson number 2: You expect everyone in this world to have a clear idea what's right, what's the most ingenious way of dealing with things, and that why people just fail to see the "6" on the dice.

Let me relate to a classic example that happened at last Friday's MindCafe session with my buddies, on this game about Expressions. Can't remember the exact name, in general it's a game whereby you either draw, say, or act out the expression drawn from the cards. Out of the 20+ expression, there's only 3-4, at most 5, whereby the rest of the table got the same guess.

Once again, i commit alot of this act, whereby i tend to get nervy about others not being able to get what i'm trying to relate or state. So i guess you can put me as someone who rather do all the fishing for you, than to teach you how to fish throughout the entire fishing trip.

Good and bad. If you're someone who's more lay-back, sure, my impatience probably complements you well, by doing the job for you. On the contrary, if you're more persistent in getting to knowledge and facts, rather than accepting without any questions, you probably hate me for being such an arse, who always think he's smart and self-centered.

Lesson number 3: When feeling unappreciated, you turned into someone who presumed the world is black, and as time goes, you just switch off and accepted the very fact that in this cruel society, one's survival is often build upon someone's suffering or unhappiness.

I guess you can't help believe, or start to realise that in this small planet of 6 billion population, we are one species who cares alot more about ourselves more than anything else. So i wonder if this is one of the reason why, we as human, can never kill ourselves by holding our breath without any external factors.

In my previous post, at the last part where i complained about those group of people, it's just all about this; doing more for oneself, doing less for the rest.

Guess i'll end here. There are alot more lessons i have in mind. But before i go on the list, lesson 0, always get yourself sleep when you know you need to.

Till then

Random

Once again, it's been a month since my last update. Time flies, i'm coming to the end of week 5 for the current semester. In short, it's another $3k gone to NUS, another 7 weeks from exams, another semester gone with ever increasing desire to burn the books and just enjoy and party everyday.

Speaking about total random, i lodged a police report today by making a call earlier during the day. In short, i was waiting for bus and i saw a guy behaving rather weird. Call it my gut instinct or whatsoever, when i saw a malay male approached him, and that the guy, call him A, reached into this groin area to take out something, i just have to think that it wasn't just simply the uncivilised act.

He saw me looking towards his direction and he keep looking. So tell me, unless you're doing something wrong, why would you stare back at a person looking from afar, when someone in front of you is speaking to you. As i hesitate to make a police call, i kept my sight on him. Good thing my bus didn't come fast enough.

Anyway, part of the reason for my hesitation, was that i'm thinking which number to dail, the triple, or the toll free 1800. I was thinking of calling the nearest police centre, but... who knows their number? Frankly i have no clue.

So after some thoughts, i decided to be good citizen for once, and i dialed the toll free 1800. Triple number will probably overkill the gut feeling i have. Don't think it's something worth their trouble. Anyway, the almost 40s of call waiting almost made me hung up the call, talk about efficiency, guess if i'm making a serious urgent report, "nasi lemak" would have hailed a cab, waved back at me, and disappear into corners before someone picks up, for me to either stare in disbelief while holding the phone or comtemplate hanging up and avoid being accused of making false alarm.

Actual call content shall not be discussed here. So as i was standing waiting for bus, keeping my sight with him as he was walking around the entire void deck, AIA called me. While trying to comprehend the conversation, i was half the time thinking when will the guys in blue appear, whether A has gone, and keeping in mind i have a bus to catch.

Just as i was about to end the call by throwing the disgusted reply of, "can i get back to you", from the corner of my eye, i saw a group of people, and i turned to my right. So guess what? It's a scene of 7-8 men in blue, walking towards and calling out to A, who tried walking off calmly near towards the bus stop.

Not alot of action, for A stopped after repeated calls and follow the "blues" back to the void deck. My bus came, and i left. Not exactly dramatic enough, and i didn't get any follow up call from them, so i guess either he's clean or they did their job and so my job as a "good citizen" ends.

Anyway for now, i'm looking forward to Friday. Probably the night i can slack more, for that the past 5 weeks i don't remember letting my hair down.

One last note before i leave. This is something i keep complaining and experiencing it day to day. The EQ of Singaporeans, NUS students, lecturers and more specific, human race.

Let me elaborate in details. I'm not sure how many reading this are public commuters, but i have to say, those taking MRT or bus are either too self-centred, or possess the infamous "kiasuism". Let's start with MRT, i hate to say, i simple don't understand people who like to crowd at the pole at middle of entrances. All will try to have a piece of the cold metal. Are they just simply too cautious not to fall, or they just want to have a touch of it since everyone is trying to do so.

For f sake, move in, especially to the center of the car or the other entrance where the doors are not opening. There's like ZILLION of space there. Worse situation is when you transit from Raffles towards Boon Lay. I know many office workers are desperate to get in for just 1-2 stops, so they will just squeeze and push their way in, and when they are in, they want to crowd at the direct opposite doors. Leaving another zillion space at the center of the car. Why?

Because they want to be the first to leave the train, hopefully be the first to step on the escalator, and be the first to step in the office and proclaim to be diligent worker who never fails to come work on time.

Now bus. I'm sure i don't have to touch on the part we as proud Singaporean, never wants to be the last, unless there's seat behind, many won't want to enter the "forbidden" zone, which happens to be the back of the bus. Even if they does, they want the passengers sitting down facing their back, to know that they got big branded bags, maybe i should call them luggages. For that "show-off" they again took up another person's standing spot. Why not right? Since they already paid for their ride, getting another free space is definitely a good bargain.

And guess what? The bus simply won't move even it's already full, with passengers almost like sardines. Now what? Oh, cause the kind driver wants more to be able to get on the bus and not be late. How nice of him.

So for f sake, if you're those trying super hard to get up when it's already packed, just back off and ask the driver to move on will ya? You are just delaying the 60 others who already got in. I just don't understand this part. Be considerate when others aren't considerate to you. For once, you will definitely be the one either in the bus or outside. Either way, be considerate and move on!

Now come the best part. Lecturers. I'm not even going to say it's just NUS lecturers, but you guys should know, lecturers as general. Yeah i know, some are real good ones, but you see, there's many i have encountered during my short 2 and a 1/2 semesters, who never fail to give the impression they are super busy to either not release lecture materials, or tutorials earlier.

Keep talking about all the big bullshit about time management, work hard, work consistently, when it comes to throwing us projects/assignment with a timeline to it. So why don't you lecturers start doing you all have been preaching?

What's the big deal about releasing notes at least few days in advance, instead of uploading materials 2am in the morning when the lecture is 12pm on the same day, or maybe have the decency to realise that there are different tutorial days, and that it's not fair for those having it on Mondays, while uploading materials on Friday which need preparations. But who can blame them? They are just humans with doctorates to their names. Simply permanent head damage (PhD).

It's late now, i guess that's all. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the new song. And remember, what's taught in classes are simply a test of memory, what's not taught in classroom, are what you see in your daily life. Either you learn it and be a better man, or you are simply one who slogs hard just to see yourself behave like a jerk.

Till then.